Customer reviews and their honesty has been a contentious point in every industry for as long as those industries have existed

Now the BBC has carried out an independent review which exposes fraud at numerous levels within the production techniques used by the respective companies who have built businesses as the purveyors of reviews.

The various accusations refer to –

Reviews written by professional article writers

Reviews written by deceased individuals etc etc.

One of the Companies singled out for criticism is TRUST PILOT the company used by the GFD Group of companies –

Timber Composite Doors

Global Doors

Global Sash Windows

to provide reviews for our installations –

At GFD HQ we are not naive we know that there are dubious reviews out there

BUT THEY ARE NOT OURS –

When GFD install a door or a window it is the customer choice as to whether they provide a review we provide only the vehicle for them to contact TRUST PILOT and have no further involvement until we see the review posted on our page on the Trust Pilot Website

It is our experience that there are four types of customer –

Those who are really happy with their installation and they want to write reviews and tell the world how good their Door /Window is – WE LOVE THESE CUSTOMERS – and they comprise probably no more than 10% of our installations

Those who genuinely like their installation but have a few “niggling” faults but still want to write a review probably about 5% of our installations

Those who are pleased with their installation but have neither time or inclination or the desire to write a review probably about 80% of our installations

Those who are genuinely unhappy with their installations and rather than write reviews come straight back to the company direct to have remedies sought seek compensation etc probably about 5% of our installations – very occasionally even when these installations are remedied these customers take to the reviews and write a negative review – fortunately they are very few in number.

At GFD HQ we would encourage all of our customers to read our TRUST PILOT reviews but do not just click on the individual six or seven précised reviews at the head of the page there is a Read all Reviews Facility there are currently about 110 listed and although the majority are positive look out for the yellow or red bannered responses because they are not good – but they are in a very small minority and ultimately they have generally been resolved with the customer.

On this expanded table of reviews any prospective customer will see that GFD wherever possible comment / reply to reviews.

As a further example of our appreciation of our customers opinions any visitor to our Timber Composite Doors web site will have noted within our blogs section we have for the last six months being running a series of articles showing the before and after installation photographs of our customers new doors – why did we do this – because we believe pictures speak louder than words – they are all genuine because as part of the record of our installation process we request that our customers allow us to take actual photographs.

The BBC article makes a large reference to “Ghost writers” at GFD we would never do this (nor would we know how to) we want our customers feedback good or bad only then can we improve our service and service is that which has allowed us to build the business.

The GFD HQ is fully in support of the BBC initiative we also believe that the only way to improve any industry is honest appraisal and review so we would request all prospective Customers to continue using the services of TRUST PILOT to provide us with honest reviews – GOOD or BAD.

A selection of our “real reviews” from the past week, from real people, each of whom have had a Solidor Timber Composite Door Fitted by ourselves

Ordering on line was easy with the survey date being arranged the same day. The surveyor also carried out the installation which was agreed with no changes. The team were smart, punctual and extremely professional. Being an ex MoD “clerk of works” I know when a good job is carried out and I am extremely happy with both the fitting and overall appearance of the door.

Excellent personal service from both the company and their surveyors, Martindales, who came to measure twice to help us find a way to fit the door we wanted and were thorough and courteous. Nice guys who fitted the door beautifully with minimal mess and disruption. Beautiful quality door and with the hand forged fixings it looks like a door made for a stone cottage (which is what we have). But without the drafts! As we live in an exposed coastal location and our door leads straight into the living room we needed a really good fit. We have it. Had to take a deep breath about the bill but no regrets.

We bought a new front door. Telephone help was there when we needed it, advice on what we had ordered (we made a mistake in our order which was pointed out to us and so rectified) and delivery was when we were told it would be. An excellent service and a lovely, excellent quality front door!